Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 129.djvu/628

620 women candidates will appear in the lists."

"Heaven forbid!"

"But if you will only allow me to point out"

"Here we are at the lèse-salon." exclaimed Annie, joyfully; "and, Rhoda, there is no time to lose; there is the fat man in the blue spectacles making straight for the Times—he will get it!" But with one light bound Rhoda Langdon had reached the table, and taken possession of the one cherished Times—from under the very nose of the disappointed gentleman, whose goodly proportions compelled him to move with dignity and reserve. Rhoda sank down on a chair with her prize, and Annie took up the visitors' list with which to amuse herself. Captain Somers drew a chair to the table and sat down beside her.

"' There are a good many arrivals," she said—"Son Excellence M. Eugène de Tchelitine, Conseiller privé, and Sénateur-Varsaic, and Mr. Robinson of New York, wife and courier—not a flattering way of putting his suite."

"Look at this one," said he, smiling—"Lady Bigs, London; Sir Marmaduke, and maid—which looks the best?"

"Much of a muchness," she answered, laughing. "We have some grandees—the Frau Gräfin von Beicherbach. My maid was much disappointed when she found that the Frau Gräfin was the little old woman in black alpaca, with a flaxen front; and the tall woman in lilac satin, trimmed with lace, was the wife of Scant and Lavineo in Ipswich." Captain Somers seemed suddenly not to be listening.

"Miss Langdon's looks betray some news," he said, half rising from his chair. Rhoda Langdon was bending over the paper, her face lighted up with excitement, and an expression half of anxiety half of triumph on her very handsome mouth.

"I am almost afraid that it has come," said Annie, her face turning very pale.

"Will it take you away?" he asked.

"At once—instantly," she answered, with quivering lips. "I suppose you also will have to go?"

"I suppose so," he said, gloomily.

Rhoda, now starting from her chair, laid the paper down for one second, while she beckoned to the others to join her: that second was enough,—the fat man with blue spectacles was on the alert, and with the rapidity of a flash of lightning had secured the treasure. Annie could not help laughing as her discomfited cousin made her way up to her.

"Annie, wonderful news! He has dissolved Parliament; some of the writs are out already; there is not an hour to lose; the leader says that the closest canvass is anticipated: the most abrupt dissolution since Gladstone's famous one in seventy-three. Heaven grant that we may not be too late."

" But you cannot—indeed, you cannot start to-night," said Captain Somers, eagerly. "There is no train."

"I must see to it—I must pack at once;" and she hastened on towards the house.

"I hope you will not go so very quickly," he said to Annie, as they followed more slowly.

"Indeed we must," she said, with a sigh; "I do not see any alternative."

"At least, let us have one more drive together this afternoon."

"I am afraid Rhoda will be too busy to come."

"Then come with us. I am sure Burnley is chaperon enough for you."

"Oh yes! I should like it very much if Rhoda will let me."

"Do you always ask her leave?"

"Yes, always; you do not know how good she is to me."

"Well, I suppose you must go," he said, discontentedly, as Rhoda turned round, beckoning. "Remember I shall count on you. I shall order the carriage at half past three; and you must not disappoint Burnley: he has enough to bear without the added weight of disappointment."

She only laughed as she followed Rhoda up-stairs.

Annie Herbert found her cousin already deep in the mysteries of a foreign Bradshaw.

"Stop, stop! don't speak! 5.10—no; 5.5 in the morning gets to Zurich at 9.30. Wait there till 10.5. Very slow train, but the only one. A pencil, Annie. Bâle at 12.46. That would do. Now do you think we could go on that night, or will it be too much for you? Don't interrupt. Train starts at 11.30; arrives in Paris 5.20 Can we catch the tidal train? Yes, but it gives us only time to drive straight across Paris to the Chemin de Fer du Nord."

"Oh, Rhoda!"

"I cannot stop to talk now, dear; ring for Pauline. We must begin packing at once. We shall be able to get to London on Saturday at the very latest, or Friday night, and go down on Saturday to Loughtonstone. Here, open my desk—there